Those package deals on cable, phone and Internet often aren't the deals they're cracked up to be. Don't pay extra for services you don't really need. Here are three ways to save money on "triple play" bills in 2013.

Starting Thursday, Boxee TV will be sold exclusively at 3,000 U.S. Walmart stores. The $98 device features a built-in antenna to grab free over-the-air broadcast TV, and it also tethers to the Internet to stream YouTube, Netflix, and Pandora. Is this a way for you to ditch your cable bill for good?

Disney's eight-year deal with Major League Baseball means ESPN will shell out $5.6 billion for expanded baseball coverage. And whether you're a fan of the national pastime or not, you already pay more than $5 a month for ESPN. Which way do you think that price tag will be headed now?

As fiscally painful as it is to send a child to college, you can actually save money when your son or daughter goes off to school. Here are five areas where you can find that extra cash, plus one "cost-cutting" trick to avoid.

There is no shortage of winners when it comes to the surprising ascent of basketball star Jeremy Lin: the Knicks; Madison Square Garden Inc.; the fans; the NBA; Linsanity T-shirt sellers. But the loser has been Time Warner Cable, and its losing streak could last awhile.

Comcast just signed a major new deal with Disney that will give subscribers to the country's largest cable provider access to a ton of content across a range of devices -- not just TVs. Of course, those customers are sure to end up paying for it in higher cable bills.

Apple could be about to make TV buffs very happy. 2012's Apple TV launch may be accompanied by an Internet-based TV service for which viewers will finally be able to choose which channels they want without having to pay for hundreds they don't.

The next time you find yourself bellyaching over your expanding monthly cable bill, don't blame your provider. Blame ESPN, the biggest offender when it comes to basic cable, setting distributors back $4.69 a month for every subscriber.

Millions of TV lovers hit by the weak economy and fat cable bills are going old-school: They're using antennas. That's right: The rabbit ears your grandmother jiggled to tune in "I Love Lucy" can still receive dozens of digital channels on HDTVs. Here's how you can rule the free airwaves.